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Thieves making off with equipment stolen from a Masterton school have used a stolen quad bike to ram their way through a fence in an early-morning burglary.

The caretaker's shed at Masterton Intermediate School was broken into about 3.40am on Wednesday, with the thieves causing thousands of dollars worth of property damage as well as stealing a red Yamaha 400 quad bike and a Stihl chainsaw.

Principal Russell Thompson said the thieves wrenched open an alarmed, padlocked roller door to gain access to the shed, before driving the stolen quad bike through the roller door and escaping out on to the road by ramming through a section of the school's front fence.

It is the second time in recent years that the school has been burgled, with a quad bike, two chainsaws, a welder and tools stolen in a similar theft in 2014.

Mr Thompson said the theft was "gutting" and spending even more money on security meant taking away money from pupils.

The school had already spent a substantial amount installing alarms in the classrooms and in the shed where the gear was stolen from, he said.

"That's big money that you are spending that comes out of the curriculum budget, that's the sad thing about it."

The school was a resource for the community and it was important it was open to the public, Mr Thompson said.

"This is a school that is a community school and we want our families that live here playing basketball and visiting our farm. If people come in and do that it's pretty sad and pretty hurtful - and pretty gutting for our caretaker in particular."

Although the front gate was often open, it had been locked at the time of the theft, he said.